Dr. Crystal Frazee unpacks common myths and misconceptions about the breath that are frequently shared in yoga classes. In this episode, she shares the basics of breathing physiology that every yoga teacher should know - and how to apply that knowledge in a yoga setting. She advises teachers to drop the cue “deep breath,” prioritize quiet, effortless nasal breathing with lower rib expansion, emphasize the full breath cycle and pauses, offer opt-outs in group classes, and use gentle strategies such as slowed exhalations and brief breath holds to support CO2 tolerance and student self-observation. Listen to this episode to understand why these are best practices for teaching and cueing the breath in a yoga setting.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

00:46 Meet Dr Crystal Frazee

08:27 The difference between breathing and respiration

12:25 What most people get wrong about oxygen and CO2

18:22 What we can learn from watching a baby breathe

23:58 Nose vs Mouth Breathing

31:35 Hyperventilation & Why it Matters

34:13 Pranayama and Dysregulation

37:26 Breathing deeply: The biggest breathing myth in yoga

49:31 Breathing and Yoga Therapeutics

56:41 How to teach breathing in general public classes

01:07:51 Key Takeaways & Recap

EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES:

Crystal Frazee Website

Follow Dr. Crystal Frazee on Instagram @drcrystalfrazee

Follow Dr. Crystal Frazee on Facebook

Graduate School of Behavioral Health Sciences (where Crystal studied breathing mechanics)

Breathing assessment worksheet

* Note: This worksheet is laid out as a diagnostic tool; however, yoga teachers are not qualified to make diagnoses. If you download this worksheet, you agree to use it for your own education and as a tool to evaluate whether to refer a client or student to a clinician for diagnosis.

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